Why was chief engineer Hector Collado in the wrong place before his death?

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Death Ship captain faces inquest after secret Qld arrival

by ojacques

Owen Jacques
News Editor

Owen Jacques is an award-winning investigative journalist from Mackay, now based on the Sunshine Coast as APN Australian Regional Media’s Online News Editor. He has a strong background reporting on politics, business and breaking news. Owen has also specialised in resources reporting, which included a successful campaign to fight 100% fly-in, fly-out mining in rural Queensland towns.

SAGE Sagittarius former captain Venancio Salas Jr is to again front a coronial inquest into how two men died in Australian waters while he was master.

Capt Salas is expected to face the Sydney Coroner's Court at the inquest today.

Former Captain of the Sage Sagittarius or "death ship", Captain Venancio Salas Jr.Contributed

The inquest is examining how a Filipino chief cook disappeared overboard as the Sagittarius headed south along the Queensland coastline in August 2012.

As the Sagittarius arrived in Newcastle two weeks later, the ship's chief engineer suffered a blow to his skull before falling 10m to his death.

The fatalities earned the Sagittarius its "death ship" nickname.

What was the chief cook doing here before he disappeared?:
The current captain of the Sage Sagittarius answers questions from Counsel Assisting the Coroner Philip Strickland SC as the coronial inquest into two deaths on board visits the ship in 2014. Edited by Owen Jacques

A third crewman -- a Japanese safety supervisor -- was crushed to death on board the ship the following month as it arrived at a Japanese port. This third fatality is not a focus of the inquest

When Capt Salas previously appeared at the inquest in mid-2015, he admitted to illegally selling guns on board and conceded he had physically assaulted a young, gay crewman.

Capt Salas told the inquest at the time he could not answer further questions because he was soon to board a ship - the Kypros Sea - in Brazil. He would be out of contact for the eight months of his contract, he said.

Sage Sagittarius.

Earlier this week, an AFP case officer confirmed he treated the chief cook's disappearance as an "alleged murder" as investigations began in 2012.